679: Individualism, Transhumanism, & Learning from Abolitionists with Daniel Lee Hill
Release Date: 07/23/2025
683: The Meaning of the Scopes Monkey Trial 100yrs Later with Chris Staron
The Holy Post
New data shows the nations with the highest standards of living are seeing the sharpest declines in wellbeing, while people in poorer countries are reporting more happiness. What’s going on? David Brooks’ recent article looked at data from 142 countries, and he concludes that spirituality and social connection, not just wealth, are critical to human flourishing. In related news, since legalizing euthanasia in 2016 and expanding access to it, Canada has seen an alarming trend. Then, it’s been 100 years since the Scopes Monkey Trial. Phil talks to Chris Staron, creator of the Truce...
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682: Why We Still Need the Institutional Church with Brad Edwards
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The Holy Post crew is suspicious of a new study that finds MAGA supporters score higher in authoritarianism, social dominance, and malevolent personality traits, while liberals score higher in compassion and empathy. Church planter, Brad Edwards, says many of us hold beliefs, language, and values that sabotage our ability to benefit from participation in a church. He talks to Kaitlyn about his new book, “The Reason for Church,” and why our anti-institutional instincts are self-defeating. Also this week, the Secretary of Defense reposted comments from his pastor that women shouldn’t be...
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681: Strategically Small Churches with Brandon O'Brien
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A whites-only community has launched in Arkansas under the legal guise of a “private membership association.” The founders claim it’s about preserving culture, but Skye and Phil aren’t buying it. Then, Brent Leatherwood, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm, has resigned after years of pressure from hardline conservatives. What does his departure reveal about the denomination’s political realignment? And, this week’s guest is Brandon O’Brien, author of The Strategically Small Church. As American Christianity grapples with shrinking attendance and...
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680: Cancelling Colbert, Starving Gaza, & American Charisma with Molly Worthen
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CBS has cancelled the top-rated late-night talk show. Was it really a financial decision, or was it done to get the Trump administration to approve a corporate merger? And will Stephen Colbert now come on the Holy Post? Horrific images of starvation are coming out of Gaza as pressure builds on the Israeli government to end the war, but when does pro-Palestinian activism cross the line into antisemitism? Historian Molly Worthen’s new book, “Spellbound,” explains how charismatic political and religious movements have shaped America, and why they depend more on a compelling story than a...
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679: Individualism, Transhumanism, & Learning from Abolitionists with Daniel Lee Hill
The Holy Post
Why is our society so fractured and angry? David Brooks’ recent article draws from the work of moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre to explain how we got here, but what is the solution? With the growth of A.I., some Christians think technology may be how God redeems humanity and gives us eternal life. But is this still Christianity or a strange new Silicon Valley heresy? Kaitlyn talks to Daniel Lee Hill about his latest book, “Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Early Abolitionists.” Also this week—dolphins learn to puff the magic fish. Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free...
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678: Is Gen Z Having a Religious Revival? with Ryan Burge
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The IRS has decided churches are no longer prohibited from endorsing political candidates. Is this a win for free speech or a reason for some churches to become even more partisan? The Department of Homeland Security has released a creepy new promotional video that uses the Bible to frame border security as a mission from God. The Christian who gave George W. Bush the idea of “compassionate conservatism” says the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill marks the end of an era for the GOP. Professor Ryan Burge is back with data about the religious outlook of Gen Z. Some see evidence of a revival,...
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677: Ending PEPFAR & Why the Self-Esteem Movement Failed with Sharon Hodde Miller
The Holy Post
When George W. Bush created the PEPFAR program in 2003, it was celebrated by evangelical leaders and has saved more than 26 million lives in Africa from HIV/AIDS. So why weren’t evangelicals outraged when Donald Trump killed PEPFAR, which has already resulted in over 75,000 deaths since January? Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn unpack the arguments for and against PEPFAR, and how evangelical support for “small government” only applies to some programs. Then, Katilyn talks to Sharon Hodde Miller about what the self-esteem movement gets wrong about insecurity, and how we can recover the Christian...
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676: Classroom Culture Wars & the Spirituality of Secular America with Rachel Martin
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With Phil on vacation, Kaitlyn and Esau join Skye to talk about the Supreme Court’s ruling that public schools must allow students to opt out of gender or sexuality content that may contradict the religious beliefs of their families. At the same time, more Americans say public schools should hire chaplains to offer spiritual guidance to students. With schools increasingly becoming the front line in the culture war, can public education survive? Then, Skye talks to Rachel Martin, the co-creator of NPR’s Wild Card podcast and former host of Morning Edition, about what she’s learned from...
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675: Iran, End Times, & the Political God Gap with Senator Chris Coons
The Holy Post
Nothing fires up the End Times industry faster than America dropping bombs in the Middle East. After President Trump decided to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities this weekend, YouTube was flooded with convoluted and contradictory videos on the biblical implications of the war. But if this really is a prelude to Christ’s return, as many online end timers claim, why are they stoking panic and fear? Shouldn’t Christians welcome this news? Skye talks to Senator Chris Coons about how his faith informs his politics, why he went to divinity school, and what the Democrats can do to close the...
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674: Parades, Protests, and Habeas Corpus with Michael Bird
The Holy Post
It was a wild weekend. Donald Trump presided over a military parade on his birthday while an estimated 5 million Americans protested around the country. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss the optics of both events and ask, with America’s divided politics and media silos, is protesting still effective? They also unpack a new article by Abby McCloskey in CT that argues evangelicalism’s focus on a private, personalized faith undermines learning, curiosity, and exercising the mind. Then, theologian and Holy Post Pundit, Michael Bird, is back. He offers an outsider’s perspective on Trump’s...
info_outlineWhy is our society so fractured and angry? David Brooks’ recent article draws from the work of moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre to explain how we got here, but what is the solution? With the growth of A.I., some Christians think technology may be how God redeems humanity and gives us eternal life. But is this still Christianity or a strange new Silicon Valley heresy? Kaitlyn talks to Daniel Lee Hill about his latest book, “Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Early Abolitionists.” Also this week—dolphins learn to puff the magic fish.
Holy Post Plus:
Ad-Free Version of this Episode:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/134724718/
0:00 - Show Starts
2:05 - Theme Song
2:27 - Sponsor - World Relief - Join The Path as a monthly partner with World Relief! https://www.worldrelief.org/
3:30 - Sponsor - Our Place - Go to https://www.fromourplace.com and use code HOLYPOST to get 10% off site wide on beautiful cookware!
4:55 - Dolphins High Off Pufferfish Toxins
10:15 - David Brooks on Moral Philosophy
36:36 - Transhuminist Christians
52:20 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month
53:20 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.
54:16 - Interview
56:12 - Why Write Bearing Witness?
1:03:40 - What Do We Learn from Abolitionists?
1:19:23 - Communal History in the Church
1:29:46 - End Credits
Links from News Segment:
Dolphins Doing Drugs:
David Brooks Article on Moral Philosophy:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/trump-administration-supporters-good/683441/
Russell Moore on AI and God:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/07/image-god-ai-era-artificial-intelligence-russell-moore/
Other Resources:
Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Early Abolitionists by Daniel Lee Hill: https://a.co/d/8SrFKpm
Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
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